Two-Time Masters Champion Bubba Watson is presented a jersey from Blue Wahoos owner Quint Studer on Thursday before throwing out the first pitch of the game. Ben Twingley/btwingley@pnj.com Ben Twingley/btwingley@pnj.com

Two-Time Masters Champion Bubba Watson signs some autographs on the way out of Martime Park on Thursday after throwing out the first pitch for the Blue Wahoos. Ben Twingley/btwingley@pnj.com Ben Twingley/btwingley@pnj.com

Young golfers in the First Tee of Northwest Florida program wait to hear from two-time Masters Champion Bubba Watson on Thursday as he visits Osceola Municipal Golf Course. Ben Twingley/btwingley@pnj.com Ben Twingley/btwingley@pnj.com

Young golfers in the First Tee of Northwest Florida program wait to hear from two-time Masters Champion Bubba Watson on Thursday as he visits Osceola Municipal Golf Course. Ben Twingley/btwingley@pnj.com Ben Twingley/btwingley@pnj.com

Young golfers in the First Tee of Northwest Florida program wait to get a look at two-time Masters Champion Bubba Watson on Thursday as he visits Osceola Municipal Golf Course. Ben Twingley/btwingley@pnj.com Ben Twingley/btwingley@pnj.com

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The gleam on Bubba Watson's face, often enhanced by heartfelt tears, was matched by the radiant hue on his back.

The Masters champion and Milton High graduate returned to his youth golf roots Thursday, wearing the famed green jacket with the trademark symbol and clutching so many memories.

The kind of flashbacks to when he was a kid and collecting local junior golf trophies like Mardi Gras beads. He was the lefty in the knickers and Payne Stewart cap — a favorite — who dreamed big and fulfilled it all the way into golf stratosphere.

"I have been so lucky, so blessed to represent Pensacola (and Milton area) on the PGA Tour," Watson said. "And then to have six wins, two of them Masters (championships) ... and where I have come from and where my family has come from. It is just overwhelming."

And inspiring.

Watson's visit to Osceola Municipal Golf Course was filled with members of the First Tee of Northwest Florida program and the Greater Pensacola Junior Golf Association, which is celebrating its silver anniversary.

Bubba's Big Day

It was all part of a Bubba Watson Day, which included visits to his former schools in Milton, then ended with him throwing out the first pitch at the Pensacola Blue Wahoos game.

The crowd Thursday night, many of whom were attired in green in honor of Watson, provided a standing ovation as he was driven around the ballpark

An hour earlier, he was signing autographs on the practice range at Osceola.

Watson, 35, who played collegiate golf at Faulkner State and the University of Georgia, was trailed by a camera crew and producer from The Golf Channel, which is planning a 30-minute documentary on Watson to air later this spring.

In addition, Sports Illustrated is planning a profile story on Watson and sent a writer and photographers to Pensacola. They added to the focus on Watson and Thursday's scene at Osceola.

"He is just a really good role model for me and the my younger brother," said Madelyn Dimitroff, 14, among the first to receive a Watson-signed photographed, along with brother, Nicholas, 11. "I was really excited to meet him.

"When my coaches told me he was coming here, I said, 'You're kidding, right? Are you serious?' I was so excited."

Said Nicholas: "I never thought I would get to meet him."

Sharing the success

Watson was 10 when the GPJGA was founded by Hiram Cook, golf pro and owner of Stonebrook Golf Club in Pace. Cook was at Milton's Tanglewood Golf and Country Club when Watson began with a cut-down, 7-iron, some range balls and endless desire.

"I never would have dreamed he would have gotten as far as he's gotten," said Cook, who spoke at the event. "But Bubba is self motivated. Once he sets his mind to something, he does it."

What Watson's done in this area is continually give back to grow golf. He has funded the annual Divot Derby, which he won in his age group in every year he was eligible. He has given money to a variety of endeavors since turning pro in 2003.

But he also has put a face behind his donations, making it more personal for the people he's benefiting. The day after winning the Masters, a representative for Watson called Marty Stanovich, director of the First Tee of Northwest Florida and said he wanted to come to Pensacola and visit with kids.

"For guys who have attained incredible success like Bubba, it's easy to give out of your pocket, but it's way harder to give out of your time like he has done," said Stanovich, who was an emcee at Thursday's event.

"And for Bubba to be able to take the time to come back (Thursday) is really special."

Watson earned his way on the PGA Tour, following three years on the PGA Tour's developmental tour, then known as the Nationwide Tour. His first donation was to help lifelong friend Robin Dezarn, who was then the first women's golf coach at the University of West Florida.

Dezarn, daughter of Hiram and Bonnie Cook, became a standout women's collegiate player at Auburn. She was looking for someone to help sponsor a UWF tournament and asked Watson if he knew anyone who could help with $2,000.

Watson said he would.

"I thought, I don't know where I'm going to get the $2,000, but I'll do it," Watson said, smiling. "When I look back, it's just a whirlwind for me to get to this point, thinking about how I was trying to scrape $2,000 together (as a Nationwide Tour player) and now having a green jacket (two, in fact).

"Everything blurs so fast."

Area's special connection

Generations of golf greatness blurred together Thursday when Pensacola's Jerry Pate, who won the 1974 U.S. Amateur and 1976 U.S. Open — one of only 11 players in history to win both — joined in helping honor Watson.

"To win two Masters like he has won, along with the four other PGA Tour wins, it's just incredible," said Pate, who won nine PGA Tour events in his career, including the Players Championship. That will be Watson's next tournament (May 8-11) when he returns to competition.

Both men, along with Joe Durant, and Milton grads Boo Weekley and Heath Slocum, all multiple PGA Tour winners, grew up playing Pensacola's public courses.

Watson said his early golf years when learning to shape shots were enhanced by the nuances of playing at area courses.

"If you look at every golf course we play around here, it every kind of playing condition," Watson said. "Tanglewood has a lot of trees, Tiger Point had a lot of water. Stonebrook was tighter because of the houses. Hidden Creek and Tiger Point both had a lot of wind.

"This course (Osceola) was shorter than most and was different before they re-did it, so it's every kind of condition.

"Golf was really big when I was growing up. They respected all juniors and every course was proud to have juniors play there."